U-20 Women’s W/Cup: Falconets beat Canada to maintain perfect start

Nigeria’s Falconets have completed their Group C campaign at the ongoing  U-20 Women’s World Cup with a 3-1 over Canada.

The Christopher Danjuma-led girls came from behind to register the emphatic victory over the Canadians in the early hours of Thursday.

The fortune of both sides could not have been more contrasting going into the game, with Nigeria already assured a place in the quarter-final while Canada’s campaign was beyond salvageable following two consecutive losses.

However, the established hierarchy predicted little of the fierceness that the Canadians displayed in the earlier minutes of the game.

They took the lead in the fourth minute after a high press forced Falconets keeper Omini Oyono into committing an error. She tried to snipe a pass out of the defence but her slow kick was anticipated and intercepted by Kaila Novak’s outstretched leg and the ball trickled into the Nigerian net.

The Falconets refused to wallow in the frustration of the goal and relaunched themselves into the game. After a couple of brilliant chances, Nigeria equalised.

A handball in the Canadian goal area led to a penalty for Nigeria and Esther Onyenezide rifled the resulting kick expertly into the left top corner.

Onyenezide sent the Falconets ahead from another penalty kick in the 32nd minute following a foul on Mercy Idoko.

The final goal did not come until deep into the additional time of the second half, as Chioma Olise threw herself into the path of Rofiat Olise’s grounder to stab home the cushion.

Nigeria finished the group with a perfect record, after winning all three games and staying top of the pack.

The Falconets are billed to take on the Netherlands in the quarter-finals on Sunday.